Rotatable crown-filling machine and method for applying sealing rings of plastic to the periphery of the crown interior

ABSTRACT

A machine for forming sealing rings in container closures comprising a rotatable-type carrier having a multiplicity of locations for receiving closures to be provided with sealing rings, means at each location for supplying a stream of fluid gasket-forming material to the peripheral portion of each closure at each location, means for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality of times during the supply of said stream thereto and means for controlling the delivery of said stream of gasket material to each closure on the carrier while it is rotating a predetermined plurality of times, so that a ring of gasket material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

United States Patent lnventois Appl. No. Filed Patented AssigneeROTA'IABLE CROWN-FILLING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING SEALING RINGSOF PLASTIC TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE CROWN INTERIOR 9 Claims, 2 DrawingFigs.

US. (1 18/20 Int. Cl B29c 3/00 Field of Search 18/20 (G),

Primary Examiner-H. A. Kilby, Jr. Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton,Taylor & Adams ABSTRACT: A machine for forming sealing rings incontainer closures comprising a rotatable-type carrier having amultiplicity of locations for receiving closures to be provided withsealing rings, means at each location for supplying a stream of fluidgasket-forming material to the peripheral portion of each closure ateach location, means for rotating each closure on its axis a pluralityof times during the supply of said stream thereto and means forcontrolling the delivery of said stream of gasket material to eachclosure on the carrier while it is rotating a predetermined plurality oftimes, so that a ring of gasket material of substantially uniformdimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

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FIG. 1

PATENT-EBHAY 4m?! 3.677.595

' SHEET 1 [1F 2 Er n 3 ml" a: a; v FE Q t 'llf hu QI N A f N g g & "W1 6NNNNNN 0 RS I o Mimi HIM/11 J G 8|S H DONALD MITH BY ROBERT HADABACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The inventionrelates to method and apparatus for applying a ring of fluid plasticgasket-forming material to the inner peripheral portion of a containerclosure, such as the caps, cro'wns, lids and other closures for varioustypes of bottles and other containers. When the ring of gasket-formingmaterial is applied to the closure, it is located in the position forsealing the container in a known manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art Apparatus of the general type accordingto the present invention is disclosed in Wilkens et al. U. S. Pat. No.2,937,404 in that a rotatable closure-filling machine is provided fordepositing fluid plastic material into the interior of containerclosures. Another and prior patent along this line is the Pottle US.Pat. No. 2,515,908.

Various prior patents disclose the supply of plastic gasketformingmaterials to closures, and at the same time effect rotation of theclosures. For example, reference is made to the U .S-. Pats. to WarthNo. l,86l,589, Egan No. 1,956,0l2, Foye No. 2,489,407 and .loswig No.2,553,590.

Some of these and other prior patents disclose the use of suitable fluidplastic gasket-forming materials of various kinds such as plastisols,organisols and the like for use in providing seals, rings and liners incontainer closures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a method of providing aring of gasket-formingmaterial of substantially unifonn dimensionsthroughout in the peripheral portion of a closure by supplying a smallstream of the gasket-forming material to the peripheral portion of theclosure while simultaneously rotating it on its axis a plurality oftimes, so that the stream of fluid gasket material forms a plurality oflayers or stream deposits one upon the previous deposit during therotation of the closure, thereby forming a ring of uniform dimensions.

I More specifically a multiplicity of closures are processed as they arecarried along on a carrier from'an inlet station to an outlet station.During this travel, each of the closures is rotated a plurality of timeswhile a stream of fluid gasket-forming material is supplied thereto inthe manner described above.

The invention also comprises an apparatus or machine for carrying outthe improved method, the machine comprising a carrier for containerclosures, specifically comprising part of a rotatable turret-typemachine for carrying out the above method, including means such as achuck or spindle for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality oftimes during its movement from an inlet station of the machine to adischarge station. The machine also includes means comprising a meteringmeans for delivering a stream of gasket-forming material to the innerperipheral portion of each closure, together with means for controllingthe stream to the closure during its rotation a predetermined pluralityof times.

Specifically, the metering means comprises a needle tube adapted toproject into each closure, a supply duct for supplying plastic fluid tothe needle tube, a valve in the duct and a piston pump means connectedinto the duct between the valve and the needle tube for forcing plasticmaterial through the needle tube when the valve is closed. The pistonpump and valve are actuated automatically by cam means provided on themachine.

The apparatus also includes means on the chuck or spindle for holding aclosure, means for effecting rotation of the chuck or spindle and forelevating it to a position in which the closure is directly under thedelivery end of the needle tube.

A specific construction of the apparatus comprises a completelyautomatic machine, including a rotatable carrier including superimposeddiscs, a lower star wheel disc, an in- 2 terrnediate disc provided withopenings directly above the recesses in the star wheel and an upper discoverlapping on the openings in the intermediate disc limiting the upwardmovement of the closures as they are raised by the chucks into theopenings in the intermediate disc.. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of an apparatusaccording to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 withsome of the details and parts of the metering devices removed. The FIG.is broken away in parts to show the arrangement of the star wheel discand the guide ring with respectvtothe stop plate; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely approximatelymidway of the plan view shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 theapparatus comprises a rotatable turret-type machine 10 provided aroundthe upper portion of its periphery with a circular series of individualmetering devices l2,one at each processing location, in part operated byan cecentrically located stationary cam plate 14 held in place at thetop of a fixed shaft 16 by a nut 18. The metering devices 12 are mountedon a stop and filler plate 20 extending partly over circular openings 22for crowns in a guide ring plate 24. Both plates or discs are mountedover and secured by studs as shown in FIG. 2, to a star wheel disc 26with the openings 22 directly over pockets or recesses 27 in theperiphery of the star wheel. The metering devices 12 and the discs 24and 26 are secured to a flange of a gear wheel 28 by studs 30. The gearwheel 28 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 16 and is rotated by adrive gear 32.

Crowns 34, to receive rings of fluid gasket material, are delivered by aconveyor 36 at the inlet station onto an inlet plate 38 located directlyunder .the rotatable star wheel 26 at the position of the conveyor 36.The crowns move onto the plate 38 and respectively into the recesses orpockets 27 of the star wheel 26. After the crowns are filled in themanner described later. they are discharged from the opposite side ofthe rotatable disc assembly, at the discharge station, onto a rotarydischarge table 40. The gear wheel 28 and the set of discs 20, 2A and 26are rotated counterclockwise, while the table 40 is rotated in aclockwise direction. This table delivers the crowns containing the ringof gasket material onto a discharge chute 44, from which the crowns maybe sent directly onto a conveyor 46 by which they are conducted througha curing oven 48. The discharge table 40 may be mounted on a shaftoutside of gear 28 and driven by a suitable gear, not shown, whichmeshes with the gear wheel 28.

The crowns 34 delivered onto the inlet plate 38 and into the recesses ofthe star wheel 26 must be elevated into the openings 22 to receive thegasket-forming material. Means is provided at each processing locationaround the rotatable carrier for effecting the elevation of the closuresas illustrated in FIG. 2. This comprises a spindle 50 extending througha bore in the gear wheel 28 below each opening 22. Each spindle isbiased downwardly by a spring 51 and its lower end bears on a camsurface 52 around the periphery of a cam disc 54 fixed to a machine base55 through which the shaft 16 extends and to which it is secured, asshown in FIG. 2.

Each spindle 50 carries a gear 56 fixed thereto and meshing with acircular rack gear 58 fixed to the shaft 16. The upper part of thespindle 50 includes a shouldered portion resting on the gear wheel 28when the spindles are in their lowest position, and a closure-engagingmember 60. Since the rack gear 58 is fixed, the rotation of the spindleswith the gear wheel 28 effects rotation of the spindles and the closuresresting on the elements 60. The cam 52 is arranged so that the spindlespass under the inlet plate 38 and are raised immediately afterward toelevate the closures into the openings 22. At the opposite side in FIG.2 the cam 52 is arranged to lower the spindles 50 located in the underside of the to deliver the closures with the sealing rings therein ontothe rotary table 40 and then to pass under this rotary table before theyare-again raised asthey come around to a position to receive theclosures from the inlet plate 38.

The closures elevated into the openings 22 receive a small stream of anaccurately metered quantity of fluid gasket-forming material from aneedle tube 62 extending down into the opening 22 and into the closure.The needle tube has an internal diameter of approximately 0.020 inchesand is mounted in a fitting threaded into an adjustable adapter plate 64located -at the bottom of the metering head 12 and connected with a duct66 through which gasket-forming material is conducted to the needletube. The adjustment makesit possible to locate the needle tube 62 atthe desired position in the closure for forming a ring of gasketmaterial of the desired diameter. The adjustment can also be used fordifferent sizes of closures. The fluid gasket material is delivered toeach of the tubes 66 of the metering devices from a container, notshown, which may be mounted on the cam plate M and kept under a headpressure of about pounds .per square inch to insure delivery of the boreof the needle tube unless pressure is applied by the piston The innerend of each piston 70 is fixed to a slide block 72 movable in and out bya roller 74 connected to the slide block by'apin 76. The rollers 74travel around a cam groove 78 cam plate 14, which is moved offcenter inthe correct position to actuate the piston pumps 70,.and locked by nut18. The cam groove 78 is concentric with the periphery of the cam plate14 but is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the circularcarrier 10.

Shortly after the closures 34 come off inlet plate 38 and are elevatedinto the openings 22, the outer ends of the slide valves 68 successivelyengage a cam 78, so that the slide valve closes the duct 66, asillustrated at the left in FIG. 2. At this time, the pistons 70 aresuccessively moved outwardly to force gasket-forming material underpressure through the needle tubes 62. The supply starts for eachlocation soon after the closure is taken off the inlet plate 3%. Thispressure and supply continues for approximately half or" the revolutionof the circular carrier and is stopped at each location shortly beforeit reaches the table 40. As shown at the right in FIG. 2, the inner endof each side valve 68 engages a cam 80, fixed to the cam plate 14%, toopen the valve and permit flow of gaskebforming material into the duct Mand to follow the piston 70. At this time, the piston commences toretract and assist in drawing in plastic material. The valve 68 is openand the piston 70 moves inwardly during approximately one-halfrevolution of the rotary carrier, and each metering device as it movesaround is ready for another delivery operation.

The rotatable carrier moves each closure through about 180, while it isreceiving gasket material from a needle tube 62. At the same time eachspindle 50 rotates the closure through two or more complete rotations,so that during the second or third rotations-the small stream of plasticmaterial from the needle tube is applied over the previous deposit, so

' that each closure comes out with a ring of uniform dimensions whichlacks the appearance of having any beginning or end. This results fromthe use of a small stream deposited in multiple layer deposits.

As the closures containing the deposited rings of gasket material reachthe discharge table 40, they come off in timed relation to pass,respectively onto a number of magnetic kets 82 and then be deliveredonto the discharge chute M. The dischargetable 40 is rotated clockwiseaway from the star wheel 26 and the magnets 82 pull the closures out .ofthe star wheel and take them around to be cammed off onto the dischargechute M.

The plastic compounds used for forrning the sealing gaskets I arepreferably plastisols of known type used for a number of years for thispurpose. These plastisols are usually made from polyvinyl chloridecompounds. Products which have been found satisfactory are those put outby Chemical Product Company, R-783 l, R-7839 and X-9l98 Clear Puff.Other products are those of Dewey and Almy Chemical Co., 3692 FLV, 3458and H-l 339.

A machine having a metering turret or rotary carrier as described, hasbeen run at speeds of from 50 r.p.m. to r.p.m. Higher speeds arepossible and more than the 15 processing locations shown in FIG. 1 maybe employed.

The rings of gasket material may be applied on closures which are coatedwith a lacquer or size coating in the usual manner or on a secondcoating or liner layer applied to the closures before or after they arepunched from large sheets.

We claim: a

1. In a machine for applying a ring of fluid plastic gasketformingmaterial to the interior of a container closure, includmg l. a carrierhaving a series of closure-receiving means each adapted to receive aclosure at an inlet station and release it at a discharge station ofsaid carrier,

2. means for supplying closures to the carrier at the inlet station forreceiving gasket material an for depositing the closures in successiononto the series of receiving means of the carrier,

3. means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material to apredetermined portion of each closure,

4. means for rotating each closure during the supply of said streamthereto, and

5. means for driving the carrier to effect movement of the closures fromthe inlet station to the discharge station,

wherein the improvement comprises:

6. a closure-holding means for rotating each closure on its axis aplurality of times during its movement from the inlet station to thedischarge station, a fixed rack gear extending along the carrier, and arotatable gear connected with each closure-holding means and meshingwith said rack gear for eflecting rotation of said closure holding meansas it is moved along the rack gear, and

7. means for controlling the delivery of said stream of gasket materialto supply said stream to said closure while it is rotating apredetermined plurality. of but less than said plurality of times,

8.- whereby a ring of gasket material of substantially uniformdimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is a rotatablewheel-type carrier and the rack gear is a stationary circular gear.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheel-type carriercomprises a rotatable disc member, support means rotatable in unisonwith the carrier for supporting the series of closure-holding meansrespectively in spaced relation to each other around the peripheralportion of the rotatable disc member.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable gearsconnected respectively with the closure-holding means are of a diametersuch that each closure-holding means is rotated on its axis a pluralityof times in excess of two during its movement from the inlet station tothe discharge station.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for supplying astream of fluid gasket material to each closure includes a supply ductand is located on the carrier and movable therewith, and means forcontrolling the starting and stopping of said stream to each closure intimed relation to its rotation, such that the stream is supplied to theclosure only while it is being rotated on its axis through apredetermined plurality of but less than the total times.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, including means for setting thecontrolling means for said stream to effect the even number of timesduring the flow of said stream.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for supplying astream of fluid gasket material comprises a needle tube means, and meansfor adjusting the radial'position of the needle tube.

for starting the stream when the valve is closed.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotatable disc memberincludes a star wheelhaving a series of peripheral recesses forreceivingclosures, and a disc fixed to and above the star wheel providedwith circular openings directly above the recesses of the star wheel forretaining closures to which gasket material is being supplied.

1. In a machine for applying a ring of fluid plastic gasketformingmaterial to the interior of a container closure, including
 1. a carrierhaving a series of closure-receiving means each adapted to receive aclosure at an inlet station and release it at a discharge station ofsaid carrier,
 2. means for supplying closures to the carrier at theinlet station for receiving gasket material an for depositing theclosures in succession onto the series of receiving means of thecarrier,
 3. means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material to apredetermined portion of each closure,
 4. means for rotating eachclosure during the supply of said stream thereto, and
 5. means fordriving the carrier to effect movement of the closures from the inletstation to the discharge station, wherein the improvement comprises: 6.a closure-holding means for rotating each closure on its axis aplurality of times during its movement from the inlet station to thedischarge station, a fixed rack gear extending along the carrier, and arotatable gear connected with each closureholding means and meshing withsaid rack gear for effecting rotation of said closure holding means asit is moved along the rack gear, and
 7. means for contRolling thedelivery of said stream of gasket material to supply said stream to saidclosure while it is rotating a predetermined plurality of but less thansaid plurality of times,
 8. whereby a ring of gasket material ofsubstantially uniform dimensions throughout is deposited in eachclosure.
 2. means for supplying closures to the carrier at the inletstation for receiving gasket material an for depositing the closures insuccession onto the series of receiving means of the carrier,
 2. Amachine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is a rotatablewheel-type carrier and the rack gear is a stationary circular gear.
 3. Amachine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheel-type carrier comprisesa rotatable disc member, support means rotatable in unison with thecarrier for supporting the series of closure-holding means respectivelyin spaced relation to each other around the peripheral portion of therotatable disc member.
 3. means for supplying a stream of fluid gasketmaterial to a predetermined portion of each closure,
 4. means forrotating each closure during the supply of said stream thereto, and
 4. Amachine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable gears connectedrespectively with the closure-holding means are of a diameter such thateach closure-holding means is rotated on its axis a plurality of timesin excess of two during its movement from the inlet station to thedischarge station.
 5. means for driving the carrier to effect movementof the closures from the inlet station to the discharge station, whereinthe improvement comprises:
 5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material to eachclosure includes a supply duct and is located on the carrier and movabletherewith, and means for controlling the starting and stopping of saidstream to each closure in timed relation to its rotation, such that thestream is supplied to the closure only while it is being rotated on itsaxis through a predetermined plurality of but less than the total times.6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, including means for setting thecontrolling means for said stream to effect the stopping of said streamafter the closure has been rotated an even number of times during theflow of said stream.
 6. a closure-holding means for rotating eachclosure on its axis a plurality of times during its movement from theinlet station to the discharge station, a fixed rack gear extendingalong the carrier, and a rotatable gear connected with eachclosure-holding means and meshing with said rack gear for effectingrotation of said closure holding means as it is moved along the rackgear, and
 7. means for contRolling the delivery of said stream of gasketmaterial to supply said stream to said closure while it is rotating apredetermined plurality of but less than said plurality of times,
 7. Amachine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for supplying a streamof fluid gasket material comprises a needle tube means, and means foradjusting the radial position of the needle tube.
 8. A machine asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the starting andstopping of said stream includes a cutoff valve in the fluid supplyduct, a cylinder opening into the supply duct below said valve, and apiston in said cylinder for starting the stream when the valve isclosed.
 8. whereby a ring of gasket material of substantially uniformdimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.
 9. A machine asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the rotatable disc member includes a starwheel having a series of peripheral recesses for receiving closures, anda disc fixed to and above the star wheel provided with circular openingsdirectly above the recesses of the star wheel for retaining closures towhich gasket material is being supplied.